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Abstract:

A cover that is assembled from a front assembly (3+6) and a base element
(2) is produced in that the front assembly including the front plate (3)
and the light conductor pin (6) are integrally injection molded in two
subsequent injection molding steps, while the base element (2) is
injection molded remote there from. Subsequently, the two components
which are arranged in the different tool halves (101, 102) are brought in
alignment with one another with an index plate (103) and are joined
through closing the tool and are preferably interlocked with one another.

Claims:

1. A method for producing a cover, in particular a push button made from
injection molded plastic material including: a front plate (3) and at
least one light conductor pin (6) from light permeable plastic material
integrally connected therewith in one piece, wherein the light conductor
pin extends from a front side of the front plate (3) through the front
plate and beyond the backside of the front plate; a base element (2) made
from light permeable plastic material which extends from the backside of
the front plate (3) towards the back about the at least one light
conductor pin (6), wherein the method comprises the following steps
sequentially performed through an injection molding tool 100: a) the
front plate (3) and the at least one light conductor pin (6) are directly
molded together in the same tool in a single injection molding step or in
two injection molding steps occurring after one another; b) the base
element (2) is injection molded remote from the front assembly (3+6)
including the front plate (3) and the light conductor pins (6) in the
same tool (100); c) after opening the tool (100), either the base element
(2) or the front assembly (3+6) is axially moved out of the rest of the
tool through a movable tool component (103); d) the tool component (103)
with the component that is axially moved out is moved transversally so
that the component is in an aligned position with the at least one light
conductor pin (6); e) the tool (100) is closed and thus the base element
(2) with its at least one channel (5) is pushed over the at least one
light conductor pin (6) in a direction towards the front plate (3) and
interlocked with the front plate (3) on the backside of the front plate
(3); and f) after opening the tool (100) the cover (1) is removed.

2. The method according to claim 1: wherein the one tool half of the tool
(100), in particular the ejector tool (101) is rotatable about the axial
direction (100'); and wherein the base element (2), the front plate (3)
and the light conductor pin (6) are injected in various sections (100a,
b) of the same tool (100), in particular of the non-rotatable tool half
of the tool (100).

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein after injection molding the
light conductor pin (6) and the front plate (3) in one tool half, they
remain in the one tool half, in particular the ejector tool (101) and the
base element (2) after being produced in the other tool half remains in
the other tool half, in particular the nozzle tool (102).

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the base element (2) after
injection molding remains in the tool half in which also light conductor
pins (6) and the front plate (3), thus the front assembly have remained;
wherein the base element (2) is produced with front faces that are
oriented into this tool half; wherein the tool component (103), in
particular the index plate (103), is arranged in the same tool half.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the injection molding tool
(100) includes a reversal plate between the two tool halves, wherein the
reversal plate is pivotable about an axis transversal to the axial
direction (100') by 180 degrees, and either the base element (2) or the
front assembly (3+6) remain in the reversal plate after injection molding
and are brought into a position that is aligned with the other component
(5) through pivoting the reversal plate.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the tool component (103) is
an index plate (103) which is rotated about its axial axis, in particular
its center axis (103'), in particular rotated by 180 degrees.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein a tool slide (104) is moved
mechanically, hydraulically or pneumatically, in axial direction with
respect to the supporting tool (100) in order to slide the two components
into one another.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the base element (2) is
interlocked in a form locking manner at the backside of the front plate
(3) and/or pressed in a friction locked manner.

9. An injection molding tool (100), comprising: two tool halves, in
particular an ejector tool (101) and a nozzle tool (102) which are
pressed against one another with their contact surfaces (101a, 102a)
during injection molding, wherein both tool halves (101, 102) include
plural sections (100a, b) with at least one injection molding cavity
included therein, wherein one tool half, in particular the ejector tool
(101) is rotatable in a controlled manner about the axial direction
(100') from one section to another section (100a, b), wherein in the tool
(100), in particular the non-rotatable tool half, in particular the
nozzle tool (102), in particular only in one section, a tool component
(103) is provided which is axially movable out of the contact surface of
the tool (100), and wherein the tool component in extended condition is
pivotable about the axial direction (100'), e.g. its center axis (103),
in particular pivotabie about 180 degrees, or movable transversal to the
axial direction (100'), or pivotable about an axis that is transversal to
the axial direction (100), in particular pivotabie by 180 degrees.

10. The injection molding tool (100) according to claim 9, wherein in one
tool half, in particular in the non rotatable tool half, in particular in
the nozzle tool (102), in one section a tool slide (104) is provided
which is movable in axial direction (100') and which is arranged in
alignment with the moved tool component (103) in the tool.

11. The injection molding tool (100) according to claim 9, wherein a
material removing tool unit, in particular a milling unit, a turning unit
or a drilling unit, a laser unit or a joining unit is arranged in at
least one of the tool halves (101, 102), wherein the joining unit is
movable in particular between an activated and deactivated position
relative to the supporting tool halves (101, 102).

12. A cover (1) made from injection molded plastic material, comprising:
at least one light conductor pin (6) made from light permeable plastic
material and a front plate (3) integrally connected therewith and in
particular non-transparent; at least one channel (5) in the base element
(2) that is open at a front side of the base element (2), wherein the at
least one light conductor pin (6) is arranged in the channel (5) of the
base element (2), wherein the light conductor pin (6) reaches to the
front side (3a) of the front plate (3) and is laterally melted together
in its forward end portion with the front plate (3), wherein the light
conductor pin (6) is neither melted together nor glued together with the
walls of the channel (5) of the base element (2); and the base element
(2) is connected with the front plate (3), in particular interlocked.

13. The cover according to claim 12, wherein the base element (2) is made
from non-light transparent material, in particular black or white
material.

14. The cover according to claim 12, wherein the light conductor pins (6)
and/or the channels (5) taper from the front end to the rear end, in
particular taper conically.

Description:

I. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to plastic covers as required for components
in dashboards of motor vehicles, in operator interfaces of machine
controls and for many industrial applications in large numbers. A cover
can thus be a permanently mounted aperture like a moveable actuation
element, e.g. a push button, a turn controller or a turn switch or any
other element which is configured to cover components arranged there
behind.

II. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Covers of this type for automotive applications in dashboards have
to be high quality, thus not only sized correctly, but also very high
quality with respect to the surface structure and the imprimation edges.

[0003] Covers of this type are typically not only made from a front plate
providing the actual cover function but also from a base element
extending from the backside of the front plate in depth direction, so
that the front plate and the base element together provide a
three-dimensional cover which is stable enough by itself for handling and
assembly purposes and in which additional functions can be integrated.

[0004] For this purpose, the front plate is typically made from
transparent material and is covered with a light permeable layer on its
front side which is only interrupted where a light permeable, in
particular backlit portion, shall be provided in the cover. For this
purpose, the non light permeable layer is initially applied fully
covering the surface of the front plate and subsequently removed again in
the desired portions e.g. through laser impact.

[0005] An additional function of this type is e.g. the configuration of
pass-through openings extending in the depth direction of the cover, in
particular of the base element of the cover which can be closed on the
front side by the front plate or can also be left open.

[0006] The pass-throughs that are open on the front side are used e.g. for
inserting switches, actuation knobs which themselves in turn can form a
cover according to the invention or similar from the front side of the
cover, while the blind hole channels that are closed on the front side by
the front plate have other functions and typically are not only used for
stabilizing the base element.

[0007] Thus, e.g. portions of the cover, e.g. particular blind holes are
backlit from the backside of the cover e.g. by LEDs which are arranged in
a respective position on a circuit board arranged behind the cover.

[0008] In particular when the portion to be illuminated in the front plate
of the cover is relatively small and due to the extension into the depth
of the cover, the illuminating LED is relatively far behind the front
plate, e.g. 1 to 2 cm or more, the illumination effect on the front plate
is too small.

[0009] For this purpose, it is known to arrange a typically pin shaped
light conductor made from plastic material in the dead hole of the cover,
wherein the light conductor bridges the distance between the illuminating
LED and the front plate that is light permeable in this portion in order
to let a greater light volume reach the front plate. The light conductor
pins are thus typically made from a transparent light permeable plastic
material and the light conductor effect typically includes that at the
side surfaces of the light conductor pin that extend along the light
conductor pin, a reflection of the impacting light occurs and the light
is reflected back into the light conductor.

[0010] In this context, it is already known that the light conductor
function of the light conductor pins is less when the light conductor
pins are produced through filling the dead hole channel with transparent
plastic material through an injection molding method, thus the light
conductor pins are melted together on their entire lateral surfaces with
the surrounding walls of the dead hole, thus of the base element of the
cover.

[0011] A melting together of the front face surface and/or of the front
portion of the side surfaces of the light conductor pin, in particular
with the backside of the front plate however is essentially harmless
since a pass-through of the light rays is particularly desirable at this
location.

[0012] Therefore, it is known to produce the cover and the light conductor
pins separately, in particular produce them through injection molding and
subsequently insert the light conductors from behind into the dead holes
that are open in the back, where they are typically interlocked through
friction locking or form locking of light conductor pin and dead hole.

[0013] This, however, means high logistics complexity and assembly
complexity since the cover and light conductor pins initially have to be
produced separately, though also possibly in the same injection molding
tool, subsequently the light conductor pins have to be removed from the
injection mold, stored in an intermediary manner, shipped to the assembly
location, aligned correctly with the dead hole channel and inserted into
the dead hole channels. Whether this is performed manually or
automatically, the complexity is very high, also for automated assembly
in particular the investment for extraction devices, assembly devices,
transport devices, storage devices, etc., in particular for the up to 20
light conductor pins or more per cover is very high.

[0014] Another problem in this context is that covers of this type with
respect to the shape of the face of the front plate typically are not
flat but have a camber which can not only be provided in one spatial
direction but in two spatial directions as it is often the case for
covers for the dashboards for motor vehicles.

[0015] Since, due to injection molding reasons, the camber of the face
side of the front plate is typically also provided on the backside of the
front plate in order to provide and even wall thickness of the front
plate and the light conductor pins shall contact the backside of the
front plate with its faces surface, this means that light conductor pins
that are to be inserted into a cover of this type, which can also be 10,
20 or more light conductor pins are not identical with one another, but
respectively slightly different with respect to length, camber of the
face surface, positioning of the snap-locking elements in their
longitudinal extension etc.

[0016] This means that the light conductor pins are not exchangeable among
one another with respect to the particular dead hole channels and due to
the small dimensions of the light conductor pins, thus a length of 1 to 2
cm and a transversal extension of a few millimeters, the existing
differences between the light conductors are so small that they typically
cannot be detected with bare eyes. When subsequently assembling the light
conductor pins in the respective dead hole channels of the cover, this
typically leads to mix-ups when the light conductor pins are not
separated from one another right from the beginning according to their
types and even then mix-ups still occur.

[0017] However, when an incorrect light conductor pin is pressed into a
dead hole channel during assembly, this is additionally often not
recognized during assembly since the physical differences between the
particular light conductors are very small.

[0018] This error typically only becomes apparent later, either because
the subsequent assembly of the cover configured with light conductors is
not possible in a surrounding component or it comes to damages either at
the cover or at the incorrectly used light conductor or at the receiving
component surrounding the cover.

[0019] For vendors that deliver covers for a larger sub-assembly, this
causes great difficulties when reject parts due to incorrectly inserted
light conductor pins are not detected and an deficient part is delivered
to the customer.

III. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

a) Technical Object

[0020] Thus, it is the object of the invention to provide a method for
producing covers with light conductor pins that are injection molded
together with the front plate which reduces manufacturing complexity in
spite of good light conduction with only small light losses. Furthermore,
a suitable tool and a respective cover shall be provided.

b) Solution

[0021] This object is achieved through the features 1, 9 and 12.
Advantageous embodiments can be derived from the dependent claims.

[0022] For the present solution, the front plate with the light permeable
light conductor pin is directly integrally molded in one or two
subsequently performed injection molding steps. Thus, preferably the
front plate is made from light permeable plastic material and the light
permeable light conductor pin penetrates through the thickness of the
front plate up to its front side and is thus integrally injection molded
in its front portion at the circumferential surfaces with the front
plate.

[0023] This has the first advantage that differently from applying the
light conductor pin to the backside of the front plate, the front plate
right from the beginning can be preferably injection molded from non
light permeable material and therefore it is not mandatory that a light
permeable coating is additionally applied subsequently to the otherwise
non light permeable front plate. The light conduction of the light
conductor pin is still very good, since the light conductor pin is only
glued together in its small front portion at its side surfaces with the
front plate, otherwise the side surfaces are not glued together with the
surrounding components.

[0024] After producing the front assembly, including the front plate and
the at least one light conductor pin, the base element that is injection
molded remote there from in the same tool, wherein the base element
includes a channel that is open for receiving the at least one light
conductor pin at least from its front side to its backside is directly
pushed over the light conductor pin in the tool from behind and moved
close to the backside of the front plate far enough so that the base
element is permanently connected with the front assembly either through
form-locking interlocking or through form-locking compression or in
another manner which completes the cover.

[0025] This is achieved in that after opening the tool, either the base
element or the front assembly is axially moved out of the rest of the
tool through an axially movable tool component and moved in transversal
direction so that the component is in a position that is aligned with the
other component to be assembled with the first component.

[0026] By subsequently closing the tool itself or extending a tool slide,
the two components are then axially inserted into one another.

[0027] The advantage of this method is that during assembly of the cover,
thus inserting the components into one another, only two components have
to handled, namely the front assembly on the one hand side and the base
elements on the other hand side.

[0028] In the cover which includes much more than a light conductor pin
which is very often the case, for another method in which the base
element and the front plate together form an assembly into which light
conductor pins are subsequently mounted, a very large number of light
conductor pins would need to be handled, which all have to be inserted
with a very precise fit into the channels of the base element which are
only slightly larger, which is much more difficult to perform in the
tool.

[0029] For the described method, preferably a tool half, in particular the
ejector tool is configured rotatable about the axial direction.

[0030] Thus, the base element, the front plate and the light conductor
pins are injected in different sections of the same tool.

[0031] One option is that the front assembly remains in the first tool
half after injection molding and the base element remains in the other
tool half when the tool is opened and subsequently one of the two
components is brought into an aligned position with the other component
through an axially extensible and transversal movable tool component so
that the subsequent closing of the tool causes the two components to be
axially inserted into one another.

[0032] The other option is that after injection molding the front assembly
on the one hand side and the base element on the other hand side remain
in the same tool half when the tool is opened. Also here subsequently one
of the components initially has to be axially moved out of the front
surface through a movable tool component and subsequently has to be moved
in transversal direction so that it is aligned with the other component
to be assembled.

[0033] Through the subsequent axial insertion of the moveable tool
component and/or closing the tool the 2 components to be assembled are
axial inserted into one another.

[0034] However the orientation of the base element is different for both
solutions. While in the first case the base element is oriented with its
forward face to the contact surface between the 2 tool halves, in the
second case this depends from which of the 2 moveable tool components is
initially axially extended and brought into aligned position with the
other component.

[0035] Instead of a transversal movement through a moveable tool component
thus a rotation about an axially aligned axle or a transversal movement,
a reversal plate can also be used as it is typically arranged between the
two tool halves and which is pivotable by 180° about an axis
transversal to the axial direction, wherein one of the components to be
assembled remains in the reversal plate before the assembly.

[0036] A typical case of a transversally moveable tool component is an
index plate which is rotatable about and axial axis in particular
rotatable about its center axis, in particular rotatable about
180°. Then one of the two component positions of the index plate
is the assembly position.

[0037] In order to achieve the desired axial movement when sliding the 2
components into one another either the 2 tool halves can be moved into
one another in their entireties, preferably until they contact or a
separate tool component configured as a tool slide is moved mechanically,
hydraulic or pneumatically with respect to the 2 tool halves supporting
it and thus slides one of the 2 components in a direction towards the
other component.

[0038] Thus, an injection molding tool with two tool halves, in particular
an ejector tool and a nozzle tool is required for this method wherein the
tool is configured in particular as follows.

[0039] On the one hand side both tool halves have to have at least 2
sections, wherein at least one injecting cavity is included in each
section. Furthermore a tool half in particular the ejector tool must be
rotatable in a controlled manner about the axial direction, in particular
its center axis from one section to the next. When there are only 2
sections the tool half must be pivotable back and forth or rotatable
within 180° increments.

[0040] Furthermore one tool half, preferably the non rotatable tool half,
e.g. the nozzle tool must include a tool component which is axially
moveable out of the contact surface of the tool and provides the
transversal movement of a component in extended condition: [0041] it
either has to be pivotable about the axial direction, e.g. the center
axis of the tool component, [0042] or it has to be moveable in
transversal direction, [0043] or it has to be pivotable about an axis
transversal to the axial direction, in particular pivotable by
180°.

[0044] Through this moveable tool component the two injection molded
components are brought into an aligned position before being assembled.

[0045] This moveable tool component can only be provided in one of the
sections and is e.g. an index plate that is rotatable about its axial
center axis.

[0046] Additionally for sliding the two injection molded components
together in one tool half, in particular the non rotatable tool half, a
tool slide can be provided at least in one section wherein the tool slide
is moveable in axial direction and in alignment with the assembly
position, e.g. positioned in the moveable tool component.

[0047] For additional process steps a material removing tool unit can be
additionally provided in at least one of the tool halves, a milling unit,
a drilling, a turning unit or a laser unit as well as processing units
e.g. a gluing unit.

[0048] With this method and/or the described tool a cover made from
injection molded plastic can be produced in which: [0049] the at least
1 light permeable light conductor pin permeates the front plate and
reaches to its front side and is melted together in the front end portion
laterally circumferential with the front plate, [0050] the light
conductor pin over its remaining extension is neither melted nor glued
together with the walls of the surrounding base element and the base
element is connected with the front assembly, in particular the front
plate in particular interlocked.

[0051] Thus, very good light conduction from the rear end of the light
conductor pin into the front side of the front plate is provided.

[0052] Additionally, the base element can be made from light impermeable
material, in particular black or white material and also the front plate
can be injection molded right from the beginning from non-transparent
material and thus not have to be provided with a light impermeable
coating on the front side.

[0053] When the light conductor pins and/or the channels taper in the base
element from the front end to the rear end, in particular taper conically
connecting the two components can be provided through friction locking
and without interlocking.

c) Embodiments

[0054] Embodiments according to the invention are subsequently described
in an exemplary manner with reference to the drawing Figures, wherein

[0055] FIG. 1a: a completely mounted front cover;

[0056] FIG. 1b: a cover according to the invention in a longitudinal
sectional view;

[0057] FIG. 2a, b: the front assembly in different perspective views;

[0058] FIG. 2c, d: the cover of the ejector tool of the injection molding
tool from the contact surface;

[0059] FIG. 3a: a top view of the ejector tool from the contact surface;
and

[0060] FIG. 3b: a top view of the nozzle side of the injection molding
tool from the contact surface.

[0061] FIG. 1a illustrates a typical application of the cover according to
the invention, namely an actuation cover 1' in the dashboard 7 of a motor
vehicle.

[0062] As illustrated in the front view of the actuation cover in FIG. 1a,
the actuation cover typically includes a plurality of push buttons 12,
either in rectangular form or in semicircular form within the three
circular operating units which are respectively associated with
backlightable functional indicators 9. The functional indicators 9 are
partially arranged under the push buttons 12 like for the rectangular
push buttons, partially also within the push buttons 12 themselves like
in the semicircular push buttons.

[0063] From this illustration, it becomes apparent that the individual
functional indicators 9 respectively have to be backlightable from behind
and when illuminating one of the functional indicators 9, a functional
indicator located adjacent thereto must not receive any light. This can
only be facilitated by functional indicators 9 that are insulated towards
their sides.

[0064] The cover according to the invention can be the actuation cover 1'
or also one of the push buttons 12. Subsequently, one of the semicircular
push buttons is illustrated as an example for a cover 1 according to the
invention, thus in FIG. 1a, the left push button 12 according to the line
B-B in a longitudinal view. In FIGS. 1b and 2c, d, it is illustrated in
perspective views, however the principles described therein also apply
for any other cover, either a rectangular push button 12 or the actuation
cover 1' which is not movable after the assembly.

[0065] The cover includes the so-called front assembly which on the one
hand side includes the front plate 3 which is approximately semicircular
and the transparent light conductor pin 6 made from light permeable
plastic material which protrudes in backward direction from the front
plate 3, wherein the light conductor pin already starts at the front side
of the front plate 3 and reaches through the front plate 3 and is
integrally molded with the front plate 3 in the thickness portion of the
front plate 3.

[0066] The front plate 3 can further include protrusions 3a which extend
backward remote from the light conductor 6, wherein the protrusions are
typically integrally produced in one piece together with the front plate
3 and are made from a non-transparent material like the front plate 3.

[0067] The front assembly 3+6 is illustrated in FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b.

[0068] A base element 2 is slid over the front assembly 3+6 from the
backside, thus onto the free end of the light conductor pin 6, wherein
the base element among other things includes a sleeve 4 which has a
hollow interior into which the light conductor pin 6 fits and
circumferentially completely envelops the sleeve.

[0069] As illustrated in FIGS. 2c and 2d, the base element 2 with its
sleeve 4 is pushed with the pass-through opening over the light conductor
pin 6, until the front face of the is base element 2 contacts the
backside of the front plate 3 and is fixated therein, e.g. interlocked in
that respective engagement lugs interlock in the interlocking openings of
the protrusions 3a of the front plate 3.

[0071] Thus, only the sleeve 4 of the base element 2 is illustrated,
wherein the sleeve 4 interlocks with its engagement lugs 16 in the
interlocking openings of the extensions 3a of the front plate 3 as soon
as the base element 2 is pushed forward until it contacts the backside of
the front plate 3.

[0072] Since the channel 5 that is open in the front and in the back in
the sleeve 4 of the base element 2 has a slightly larger cross-section
than the light conductor 6, the light conductor 6 has a circumferential
distance from the base element 2.

[0073] The light which has been introduced into the light conductor by an
LED 14 which is arranged on a circuit board 13 behind the rear end of the
light conductor pin 6 is conducted very well to the front end through
total reflection at the side surfaces of the light conductor pin 6 and
only small light components transition into the surrounding base element
2.

[0074] At the injection molded thus melted contact locations of the light
conductor pin 6 in the front portion towards the surrounding front plate
3, light is absorbed by the front plate 3, but because of the small
surface, these are only insignificant portions.

[0075] Thus, the major portion of the introduced light will be visible on
the front face 6 and thus on the functional indicator 9.

[0076] FIGS. 3a and 3b describe the method of producing the cover 1 which
in addition to injection molding the components also includes assembly
which shall also be automatically performed in the tool.

[0077] FIGS. 3a and 3b respectively illustrate the contact sides of the
respective tool halves which are pressed against one another during the
injection molding process and thus form cavities that are internally
enclosed at all times for injecting the plastic material.

[0078] Thus, a tool half, typically the nozzle tool 102 is locally fixated
in the machine. Through the tool half, the liquid plastic material is
injected, this means from the backside or from the sides of the tool half
injection channels run to the cavities in the injection molding tool.

[0079] The other tool half is designated as ejector tool since the
cavities are positioned with respect to the contact surface between the
two tool halves typically so that after opening the tool, the completely
injected components remain in the extractor tool which is movably
arranged in the machine and in axial direction, the depth direction 10,
the ejector tool can be placed at a distance with respect to the nozzle
tool 102. Subsequently, axially movable plungers that are included in the
ejector tool 101, wherein the plungers are arranged behind the cavities
and this behind the injected work pieces are moved forward and thus eject
the injected work piece out of the contact surface of the ejector tool.

[0080] The cavities for injecting the work pieces are arranged within the
form portion 8a, b. The visible elements arranged outside thereof are
guides and other functional elements for closing the injection molding
tool 100.

[0081] in the present case, the ejector tool 101 is pivotable back and
forth or rotatable about its center axis 100' in 180 degree increments
and has the same cavities 105a, b in the same arrangement and thus in two
sections 100a, b on both sides of its transversal center.

[0082] Thus in the ejector tool 101, there is a total of four cavities,
also designated as stations A-D.

[0083] In the first injection molding step, the base element 2 is
injection molded in the lower section 100b in the station A and the
cavity 105 arranged therein and simultaneously the light conductor pin is
injection molded adjacent thereto in the station B in the cavity 105b.

[0084] Thus, the cavity 105a is positioned in axial direction 100' so that
after opening the tool the base element 2 remains in the ejector tool
101, while the light conductor pin 6 remains in the nozzle tool 102.

[0085] After this first injection molding step and certainly in open
condition of the tool, the ejector tool 101 is rotated by 180 degrees
about its center axis 100' and subsequently the tool 100 is closed again,
thus the ejector tool 101 is moved so that it contacts the nozzle tool
102.

[0086] Out of the components injected in the first injection molding step
in the stations A and B, the light conductor pin 6 is now disposed in
station C and the front plate 3 is injection molded in the first
injection molding step about the light conductor pin 6.

[0087] The base element 2, however, is now arranged in the station D and
in this second step no additional machining is provided at the base
element.

[0088] Simultaneously also in this second injection molding step, a base
element 2 and a light conductor pin 6 can be simultaneously injection
molded again in the stations A and B.

[0089] Subsequently, the tool 100 is opened again, thus the ejector tool
101 is moved at a distance to the nozzle tool 102, wherein the finished
front assembly 3+6 remains in the upper half in the station C of the
nozzle tool 102 and is oriented with the free rear end of the light
conductor pin 6 in a direction towards the ejector tool 101.

[0090] At the station D in the ejector tool 101, the base element 2 still
remains and is oriented with its front face towards the nozzle tool 102.

[0091] In the nozzle tool 102 which also includes a section 100a, b which
is arranged above and below the center line, the cavities 105c, 105d
respectively provided in the two sections are respectively arranged in an
individual index plate 103 which is movable forward in axial direction
from the nozzle tool 102 beyond its contact surface 102a and pivotable or
rotatable by 180 degrees about the center axis 103' extending in axial
direction 100'.

[0092] Through the index plate 103 which is arranged in the upper section
100a for the time being, this way the front assembly 3+6 which is
initially still in the station C is pivoted through pivoting about the
center axis 103' by 180 degrees into the station D of the nozzle tool 102
and thus is in alignment with the base element 2 that is already arranged
in station D in the ejector tool 101.

[0093] The subsequent closing of the tool, thus moving the ejector tool
101 to the nozzle tool 102 slides the base element 2 arranged in the
station D over the light conductor 6 that is also arranged in station D
on the other tool half of the front assembly 3+6, until the base element
2 interlocks at the backside of the front plate 3 and finishes the cover
1.

[0094] Subsequently the tool 100 is opened again wherein the finished
cover 1 initially remains in the station D of the ejector tool 1 and is
ejected there from through an ejector which is not illustrated in more
detail.

[0095] This way, the cover 1 that is fully automatically made from plural
components is not only produced as injection molded component but also
assembled completely.